The mystery of human agency - mind theory

Does human agency exist? If so, then it brings with it an argument for a degree of freedom to reunite another side of the age-old debate of free will versus determinism. There are of course many convincing arguments for determinism. The foremost of which is the deterministic laws of nature of which we are inextricably bound, so that to argue against, we need to establish our existence moving in and out of time that is not afforded nature. That was the subject previously discussed which demonstrates our existence uniquely in respect to human beings. 

And of course there is no end of so called scientific experiments designed to illustrate the deterministic workings of the brain which “ made you do it" and therefore freedom is an illusion- see Seeing Ourselves - Raymond Tallis page 193- 198 

The real world 

The problem with all of these experiments is they do not replicate the real world. Just because we can demonstrate the brain's predisposition to make decisions subconsciously that appear to be (erroneously freely made) doesn’t mean everything is deterministic. We have an awareness of who we are and what meanings we can form by employing a variety of techniques from just thinking to introspection and its various forms such as meditation.  Our layered experiences are not confined to time, as for instance the spontaneous reactions in the experiments were in turn most likely previously influenced by prior commitments we have consciously made of one kind or another. The latter can’t be incorporated into the well-meaning scientist’s experiments. The inevitable conclusion from Raymond Tallis- Seeing ourselves is we make time and space to incorporate individual decisions which are freely made in our daily lives. In that sense we are free agents who seek cooperation with other free agents.

So that whilst we mostly react to situational circumstances instinctively, those actions inevitably will be as a consequence of previously made voluntary commitments. Even when some atrocious crimes are committed there Is often the case that latter contrition can prevail as the minds realization sheds light in the fact such acts may indeed have been perpetrated during a temporary period of insanity when highly charged emotions preclude one's usual rationality,

The mystery of our freedom as Raymond Tallis  notes should not be so surprising, since we are physical objects of a very special kind that can operate outside of nature even though we are inextricably part of it. This leads me to the next subject on transience and creating meaning and purpose.